I cannot begin to describe how much I love OCBPC, but I will try. I began volunteering with the center about 2 years ago and it quickly became my second home. The people were so ridiculously warm and inviting and it was one of the first workplaces where I felt truly accepted as an individual, with my disabilities and all. This was my first experience with raptors and working hands-on with wildlife, and all of the leads were patient with me, teaching me more about bird of prey husbandry, conservation, education, and behavior every week. I feel like I’ve grown so much, not only as a caretaker and educator, but as a person, in my time at the OCBPC. I’ve helped with cleaning, husbandry, booth events, releases, talks, medical treatments, and training, and I’ve loved every second of it. I’ve found a lifelong passion for raptors and wildlife rehabilitation and hope to make it my career one day. More specifically, I want to thank Joanne, the director of administration, and Harmonie, the director of husbandry, from the bottom of my heart. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work closely with and be mentored by both of these women. Joanne is an absolute delight to be around and has let me accompany her to a variety of education events where we work together and cheer each other on and teach people of all ages about raptors and their conservation. Harmonie is one of the kindest, most wonderful souls I’ve ever met and has taken me under her wing every week to learn all about the rehabilitation side of OCBPC, instructing and encouraging me. I feel honored to even know both of these people, let alone get to learn from them. As time has passed and new volunteers have joined us, I’ve continued to love the community of people and everything we are working toward together. I wholeheartedly believe in our mission of ensuring a healthy population of raptors for generations to come, and I look forward to continuing to being a part of this organization for the rest of my life.
I love this organization not only for their mission to ensure a healthy raptor population for generations to come, but for the passion of the leadership and volunteers.
This place is where I get the opportunity to escape from reality because it feels unreal working with these beautiful birds. Everyone is so passionate about the cause and end goal while meeting so many fun, unique, and like-minded people. This organization has taken me in with friendly faces and it is the best community I have been part of. Everyone is so genuine, especially all the supervisors and board. It doesnt feel one sided; everyone is always heard. Im so excited to keep growing with the organization as we envision bigger and better ways to support raptor conservation in our backyards.
OCBPC is a micro organization but does so much!
We rehabilitate approximately 150-200 owls hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures a year. These birds eat A LOT and need plenty of space to rebuild their flying strength. In partnerships with OC Parks and over 50 volunteers, we are able to do so within a very small budget. Every dollar donated makes an impact. We also take education raptor ambassadors out to schools, community groups and parks to so the public is able to see these magnificent creatures up close. And we still find time to support research! We have a saying, people come to volunteer for the birds and stay for the people
I have volunteered with OCBPC for more than 16 years. I am the volunteer recruiter and I believe in the mission and the work we do. We educate the public with various outreach programs and hopefully they come away with knowledge and awareness of the importance of raptors in the environment. The release of a rehabilitated raptor still brings tears to my eyes. When you work with then see one of these birds flying free you know you have contributed to something special.
Being a wildlife defender for years, we found OCBPC several years ago. It exceeded the five criteria we use to determine how interested we would be. Their goals, leadership. Volunteers, efficiency and enthusiasm is what all non-profits should envy and copy. Our support will never change as long as they continue their 30 years of successfully rehabilitating birds of prey. Ruth and Ross